View: Portsmouth wonder-strike could be catalyst for a new start at Fratton Park for Ryley Towler
Portsmouth defender Ryley Towler could benefit confidence-wise from his terrific goal on Friday night against Havant & Waterlooville.
As shown in all its glory on Pompey’s official X page [19 July], Towler carried the ball from the back line unchallenged and soared an incredible 45-yard hit into the net, contributing to the team’s 3-0 win at Westleigh Park.
Towler made only six League One appearances as the Blues became champions last season, struggling to break into a defence performing fantastically.
Portsmouth could offer Towler a chance
As mentioned, Towler appeared to be the most notable victim of his own side’s success as far as Portsmouth were concerned last term.
When new signing Tom McIntyre sustained an injury in January, it was the now-departed Sean Raggett who filled in as the team kept 19 clean sheets in the league, with Towler not starting for three months until the final day of the season – keeping Lincoln City at bay with a 2-0 win.
The former Bristol City centre-half enjoyed a positive start to his Pompey career, playing 20 times as the team finished ninth in the league in 2022-23.
With Championship football beckoning, some are of the view that it has come too soon for Towler, and have backed him to excel on loan elsewhere.
But the goal has shown that glimmer of confidence still remains for a member of the squad with a tremendous attitude and professionalism, which may just give him the edge in taking an opportunity in the second tier should he receive it.
In other Portsmouth news, Andrew Moon judges where Pompey should recruit next.
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